US Open 2026: Watch Day 3 Matches and Key Players
The first round has already ripped up a few scripts, especially on the men’s side, and the 2026 US Open is only just settling into its stride. Day 3 at Flushing Meadows brings a heavy slate of singles action, a fresh wave of qualifying drama, and a mixed doubles tournament that has already crowned its champions.
Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik have taken the mixed doubles title for Czechia. Everyone else is still chasing their story.
Here’s how to watch it all — and who to keep an eye on.
How to Watch the US Open in the US
ESPN holds the keys to the US Open again this year, with coverage spread across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and the ESPN app. If you’ve cut the cord, you’ll need a live TV or streaming package that carries those channels.
These are the main options:
- DirecTV – The base package starts at $59.99 for the first month and includes ABC and ESPN+.
- ESPN Unlimited – Direct-to-consumer streaming with live sports and archived ESPN programming from $29.99 per month.
- Fubo – The Sports plan includes ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 at $65.99 per month, with a quarterly billing option available.
- Sling – The Essentials plan carries ESPN and ESPN2 for $19.99 per month. There’s also a Sling TV Day Pass at $4.99 if you just want a single day of tennis.
- YouTube TV – Its Sports Plan includes ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 for $64.99 per month.
Pay close attention to the schedule: some matches will slide onto ABC, others will live exclusively on the ESPN app. The late-night showpiece clashes often land on the main ESPN channels.
How to Watch the US Open for Free
You don’t necessarily need a long-term subscription to follow the action.
In the US, several streaming platforms offer free trials that can cover part of the tournament:
- DirecTV
- FuboTV
- YouTube TV
A trial on any of these services can give you short-term access to ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 at no cost, as long as you’re a new subscriber and remember to cancel before the billing date.
Outside the subscription ecosystem, one of the most attractive options sits in Australia.
9Now: Free US Open Coverage from Australia
Australian broadcaster 9Now is streaming the 2026 US Open for free. For viewers physically in Australia, it’s as simple as signing up and pressing play.
For everyone else, geo-restrictions get in the way. That’s where a VPN comes into play.
Many VPN services let you connect to a server in another country and access region-locked streams. To watch the 9Now coverage from the US, UK, or elsewhere, you’ll need a VPN that offers reliable servers in Australia. ExpressVPN is one such option, with a broad global server network designed for this kind of location spoofing.
The basic steps are straightforward:
- Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN service (for example, ExpressVPN).
- Install the VPN app on your device.
- Connect to a server based in Australia.
- Go to 9Now and start streaming the US Open.
Most of the better VPNs aren’t free, but many offer a trial window or money-back guarantee for first-time users. Time it right and you can watch a chunk of the tournament — or even the whole thing — without paying beyond that trial period.
Tuning Your Setup
However you’re watching, one small tweak can change how the tennis looks on your screen. Turning on your TV’s motion-smoothing setting can make the rapid pace of rallies and serves appear smoother and easier to track. Just remember to switch it off once the tennis ends, or you’ll be stuck with the so-called “soap opera effect” on your films and shows.
Day 3: Schedule and Storylines
The US Open schedule for September 1 is stacked, with established names, rising talents, and qualifiers all jostling for space on the courts of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York.
Women’s Singles – All Times ET
11 a.m.
- Maria Sakkari vs. Robin Montgomery
- Yuliia Starodubtseva vs. Ella Seidel
- Thea Frodin vs. Elena Rybakina
- Yulia Putintseva vs. Belinda Bencic
- Gabriela Andrea Knutson vs. Eva Lys
11:30 a.m.
- Madison Keys vs. Alina Korneeva
12:40 p.m.
- Mirra Andreeva vs. Janice Tjen
12:45 p.m.
- Darja Vidmanova vs. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
1:10 p.m.
- Lucie Havlickova vs. Anna Bondar
- Daria Kasatkina vs. Paula Badosa
1:40 p.m.
- Tatjana Maria vs. Jelena Ostapenko
1:50 p.m.
- Kaitlin Quevedo vs. Elise Mertens
1:55 p.m.
- Arantxa Rus vs. Leolia Jeanjean
2:50 p.m.
- Iva Jovic vs. Magdalena Frech
3:20 p.m.
- Nikola Bartunkova vs. Mayar Sherif
3:30 p.m.
- Oleksandra Oliynykova vs. Reese Brantmeier
4 p.m.
- Magda Linette vs. Francesca Jones
7 p.m.
- Coco Gauff vs. Zeynep Sonmez
8:40 p.m.
- Mary Stoiana vs. Alexandra Eala
Cancelled: Anastasia Potapova vs. Terez Valentova
The women’s draw leans on star power here. Rybakina, Sabalenka’s closest rival in the seedings, steps into her campaign, while Coco Gauff commands the night session in front of a home crowd that now expects deep runs, not just plucky performances.
Madison Keys, a former finalist, begins her own push against Alina Korneeva, while established threats like Bencic, Mertens, Ostapenko, and Kasatkina all look to avoid early stumbles.
Men’s Singles – All Times ET
11 a.m.
- Francisco Comesana vs. Flavio Cobolli
- Mattia Bellucci vs. Zsombor Piros
- Dane Sweeny vs. Corentin Moutet
- Nishesh Basavareddy vs. Tristian Schoolkate
- Filip Misolic vs. Francisco Cerundolo
12:10 p.m.
- Camilo Ugo Carabelli vs. Jan-Lennard Struff
12:50 p.m.
- Taylor Fritz vs. Darwin Blanch
1:10 p.m.
- Arthur Fery vs. Lorenzo Musetti
1:30 p.m.
- Zizou Bergs vs. Carlos Taberner
1:40 p.m.
- Jesper de Jong vs. Francesco Passaro
2:20 p.m.
- Rafael Jodar vs. Yunchaokete Bu
- Juan Manuel Cerúndolo vs. Arthur Gea
2:50 p.m.
- Fabian Marozsan vs. Michael Zheng
- Zachary Svajda vs. Daniel Altmaier
- Alex Molcan vs. Benjamin Bonzi
3 p.m.
- Jan Choinski vs. Botic van de Zandschulp
4:30 p.m.
- Marcos Giron vs. Ignacio Buse
5 p.m.
- Andrea Guerrieri vs. Alex de Minaur
7 p.m.
- Adolfo Daniel Vallejos Álvarez vs. Gael Monfils
8:10 p.m.
- Alexander Zverev vs. Lorenzo Sonego
The men’s draw has already felt the shockwaves of early exits, and with Jannik Sinner ruled out through injury, the door has cracked open for others. Alexander Zverev, seeded No. 1, anchors the late session against Lorenzo Sonego, while American No. 1 Taylor Fritz carries home hopes in his clash with Darwin Blanch.
Alex de Minaur, Gael Monfils, and a host of dangerous floaters add to a day that could easily produce another upset or two.
Tournament Schedule: Three Weeks in Queens
The 2026 US Open stretches across three weeks from Sunday, August 23, to Sunday, September 13, all at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Key dates:
- Qualifying events: August 24–27
- Men’s and women’s singles main draw: August 30–September 13
- Mixed doubles: August 24–26
- Men’s and women’s doubles: September 3–12
- Junior events: September 3–12
- Wheelchair events: September 8–12
Finals weekend shapes the climax:
- Women’s Doubles Final: Friday, September 11
- Women’s Singles Final & Men’s Doubles Final: Saturday, September 12
- Men’s Singles Final: Sunday, September 13
Every path, every storyline, is pointing toward those three days.
Who’s in the 2026 US Open Field?
This year’s draw features 17 former Grand Slam singles champions, 10 of them past US Open winners. Experience is everywhere.
On the men’s side, Sinner’s absence has reshuffled the hierarchy. Alexander Zverev comes in as the top seed, with Carlos Alcaraz at No. 2 and Felix Auger-Aliassime at No. 3.
In the women’s draw, the power axis is clear: Aryna Sabalenka as No. 1 seed, Elena Rybakina at No. 2, and American Jessica Pegula at No. 3.
The United States leads all nations with 28 players in the main draw. Beyond Pegula and Gauff, the home challenge includes Amanda Anisimova, Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, and the evergreen Venus Williams.
The stage is set, the field is loaded, and the early upsets have already warned the favorites: at Flushing Meadows, reputations don’t win matches — nerve and timing do.
